Hydrotherapy equipment



F. M. NASH HYDROTHERAPY EQUIPMENT Nov. 29, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMay 21, 1964 FIE- 1- ATTORNEYS Nov. 29, 1966 F. M. NASH 3,287,741

HYDROTHERAPY EQUIPMENT Filed May 21. 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I i j I I i ia I D, o o 'Z I 0 i v I: l l4 1 l INVENTOR. FLOYD M. NASH ATTOENE Y5United States Patent Ofiice 3,287,741 Patented Nov. 29, 1966 3,287,741HYDROTHERAPY EQUHMENT Floyd M. Nash, Little Rock, Arie, assignor toJacuzzi Bros, Inc., Richmond, Califi, a corporation of California FiledMay 21, 1964, Ser. No. 369,143 8 Claims. (Cl. 4-180) The presentinvention relates to hydrotherapy equipment, and more particularly toequipment of this type which is adapted to be permanently installed instandard or conventional bathtubs without requiring bathtubmodification. The invention is especially directed to an improved drainvalve arrangement for use in hydrotherapy equipment of the typedisclosed in copending application Serial No. 265,426, filed March 15,1963, by Candido Jacuzzi, now Patent No. 3,159,849.

Hydrotherapy equipment of the type disclosed in the aforementionedcopending application has proved particularly desirable, since thedischarge head of the equipment is adapted to be mounted in the drainopening of a conventional bathtub, while the pump and motor therefor aremounted to the exterior of the bathtub. This arrangement has theadvantage that modified or specially built bathtubs are not necessaryand that the electrical drive components are located remote from thebathtub, thus assuring the safety of the user. The equipment of thecopending application also has the desirable characteristic that thepump and circulation conduits com municating therewith to produce thehydrotherapy action are also adapted-to be utilized to forceablydischarge water from the bathtub and into a drain conduit, thusproviding for the rapid and complete removal of water from the bathtub.

In hydrotherapy apparatus of the type-disclosed in the copendingapplication, the pump has a relatively high discharge pressure in orderto provide the desired therapeutic action. When the apparatus is used toeiiect the forceful removal of water from the bathtub, this pressure isapplied to the bathtub drain line and the conventional plumbingcommunicating therewith and leading to a waste line, such as a sewageconduit. The use of the pump'in this Way has the disadvantage that thebathtub drain line and the plumbing communicating therewith is subjectedto the relatively high pump pressure, which pressure may be well inexcess of the maximum pressure allowed to be applied to such drain lineand plumbing under the plumbing codes. For example, typical pumppressure might be 18 p.s.i., whereas the maximum pressure allowed ondrain lines and associated plumbing is often limited to 5 psi. byplumbing codes. Thus, it can be seen that instances may frequently occurwhere equip-, ment of the type disclosed in the copending applicationmay be disapproved for use under local plumbing codes.

It is, accordingly, a principal object of the subject invention toprovide an apparatus of the type disclosed in the aforementionedcopending application wherein the pump of the hydrotherapy apparatus maybe utilized to exhaust water from the bathtub at less than normal pumppressure.

It is another object of the invention to provide such an apparatuswherein the valve arrangement which facilitates utilization of the pumpto exhaust water from the bathtub is operatively associated with thedischarge head of the apparatus so as to be actuated therethrough. Afurther object of the invention is to provide such a hydrotherapyapparatus wherein the valve arrangement to facilitate use of the pump todischarge water from the bathtub is connected to the discharge head soas to be removable, at least in part, from the bathtub with the,discharge head without disturbing the bathtub plumbing. Yet anotherobject of the invention is to provide an improved hydrotherapy apparatusof the type disclosed in the aforementioned copending application havinga valve incorporated thereinto which facilitates use of the apparatuspump to exhaust water from the bathtub and into the bathtub drainconduit at less than normal pump pressure, without adversely affectingthe operation or normal use of the apparatus.

Broadly, the present invention comprises an improved hydrotherapyapparatus for use with a conventional bathtub. The apparatus includes anozzle mounted within the bathtub and a pump and driving motorstherefor. The pump has a pressure outlet and vacuum inlet and a firstconduit interconnects the interior of the bathtub with the vacuum inlet.A second conduit having a drain line connected thereto interconnects thenozzle and pressure outlet. The basic apparatus is completed by a valveassembly operatively associated with the first and second conduits andthe drain line to selectively close the second conduit to the drainline, or open the second conduit to both the drain line and firstconduit to apply the pumping pressure to said line reduced by apredetermined amount.

The detailed structure of the invention and the fore;

going and other objects will become more apparent when viewed in lightof the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing oneembodiment of the invention in condition to eifect therapeutic actionwithin a bathtub;

FIG. 2 is a view in section taken on line 22 of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing anotherembodiment of the invention in condition to effect the exhaustion ofwater from a bathtub.

Referring now to FIG. 1, therein is illustrated a conventional bathtub10 having drain and overflow openings 11 and 12, respectively, and anoverflow conduit 13 extending from the opening 12 to a drain line 14.The drain line 14 extends to a main waste line (not illustrated) and hasdisposed therein a conventional trap 15.

The apparatus to which the invention is primarily directed comprises: anozzle 16 mounted within the bathtub 10; a valve assembly 17 mountedexteriorly of the bathtub and secured to the nozzle 16 through the drainopening 12; a pump 20 and driving motor 21 therefor mounted exteriorlyof the bathtub; and a conduit assembly 22 interconnecting the pressureinlet and vacuum outlet of the pump 21) with the valve assembly 17. Thenozzle 16 is of the adjustable water and air injection type illustratedin the hydrotherapy apparatus of US. Patent 2,738,787 and includes ahead 23 having water and air inlets (not illustrated) in the rearwardend thereof. As illustrated by the dashed arrow line leading through thelower end of the nozzle, the water inlet of the head 23 communicateswith a water inlet pipe 24 fixed to and extending downwardly from thenozzle, through the drain opening 11. Air is supplied to the air inletof the head 23, as indicated by the dashed arrow lines leading into theupper end of the nozzle, through means of an air pipe 25 fixed in fluidcommunication with the nozzle and extending upwardly to a level abovethat of the overflow opening 12. The flow of air into the, pipe 25 iscontrolled by a cap 26 sealingly and rotatably received on the upper endthereof and having there through an aperture 27 selectively alignablewith an aperture 30 in the pipe.

The nozzle 16 is mounted in the bathtub for rotational movement about avertical axis passing through the drain opening 11 by a base 31. Thebase 31 comprises spaced upper and lower annular sections 32 and 33,.respectively, joined by a perforate tubular screen member 34 fixedthereto. The lower annular section 33 is fixed to the bathtub 10 by'athreaded portion 35 thereon extending through the opening 11 intosealing and threaded engagement with a housing 36 forming part of thevalve assembly 17. Sealing engagement between the, housing 36 andbathtub 10 is assured by an annular gasket 37 interposed therebetween.

The nozzle 16 is secured to the base 31 for rotational movement about avertical axis passing therethrough by a Z-shaped detent member 40 havingone end 41 extending slidably through the outside of the nozzle andanother end (not illustrated) extending under the upper annular section32. The detent 40 is preferably fabricated as a unitary member and aspring is provided to urge the one end thereof under the annular section32. By pulling outwardly on the end 41, the other end of the detent ispulled out from under the section 32, thus releasing the nozzle 16 fromthe base 31.

Referring now to the valve assembly 17 to which the improvement of thesubject invention is primarily directed, the valve housing 36 has formedtherein a low pressure intake chamber 42 and a high pressure outputchamber 43. A first valve seat opening 44 extends between these chambersand a second valve seat opening 45 extends in communication between thechamber 43 and the drain line 14. Communication between the opening 45and the drain line 14 is established by a. fitting 46 sealingly securedbetween the drain line and the housing 36. As indicated by the arrowsleading through the base 31 and into the chamber 42, the annular spacebetween the water inlet pipe 24 and the section 33 provides for thepassage of water from the interior of the bathtub 10 into the chamber42.

In order to provide for the selective opening or closing of the valveseat openings 44 and 45, a pair of valve disc members 47 and 50 adaptedto seat in the respective openings are received within the housing forrectilinear. movement. The disc member 47 is secured to the pipe 24 fora longitudinal sliding movement with respect thereto by a pin 51 fixedto and extending transversely through the pipe into sliding engagementwith slots 52 formed through opposed sides of the valve member. Theinterrelationship of the pin 51 and slot 52 permits the disc; member 47to slide longitudinally with respect to the pipe 24 and, at the sametime, locks said pipe and disc member together for rotational movement.The valve. disc member 50 is pivotally secured to the lower end of themember 47 by a transverse pin 53 extending in a vertical plane passingsubstantially normal to a vertical. plane containing the pin 51. Theinterrelationship of the pins 51 and 53 provides for the universalmounting of the disc member 50 with respect to the pipe 24 and, thusassures that said disc member will seat within the opening 45, as willbe developed subsequently.

In the condition illustrated in FIG. 1, the valve disc members 47 and 50are seated in the respective openings 44 and 45 and, thus the chambers42 and 43 are isolated with respect to each other and the chamber 43 isclosed,

to the drain line 14. A coil spring 54 received around the pipe 24 andinterposed between the section 32 and the disc member 47 holds both thedisc members 47 and 50 in this seated condition. Sealing of the valvedisc 47 in the opening 44 is effected by a close fit between theperipheries of these respective elements. The latter sealing may befurther enhanced by an O-ring received around the disc member 47 (notillustrated) if desired. The disc member 50 seals the opening 45 to thedrain line 14 through abutment of a collar section on the disc memberwith the periphery of an opening 55 in the fixture 46. An annular gasket56 received in the collar of the disc member 50 assures sealingengagement between said member and the fixture 46.

Referring now to the detailed structure to move the valve disc members47 and 50 to the open position, this structure is best illustrated withreference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The structure includes a helical cam surface57 formed on the lower side of the disc member 50 and a cam follower 60formed as part of the fixture 46in a position wherein it will mate withthe surface 57. Alignment of the surface 57 and follower 60 in allpositions of the disc member 50 is assured by a pin 61 fixed to andextending downwardly from said disc member into sliding engagement witha socket 62 in the fitting 46.

In order to lift the disc members 47 and 50 out of the openings 44 and45, respectively, it is merely necessary to turn the nozzle 16 to aposition wherein the head 23 faces the adjacent upwardly extending wallof the bath tub 10, as will be developed subsequently with respect toFIG. 3. Upon so turning the nozzle, the pipe 24 secured thereto and theconnected disc members 47 and 50 also turn. Thus, the cam surface 57rides along the follower 60 to force the disc elements 47 and 50upwardly with respect to the pipe 24. During this rectilinear movementof the valve disc members with respect to the pipe 24, the spring 54 iscompressed and the pin 51 slides longitudinally within the slot 52. Inits total operation, as will be apparent from the subsequent discussion,the pipe 24 acts both as a valve actuating means and as a conduit forthe flow of water through the nozzle 23.

In the hydrotherapy apparatus of FIG. 1, the conduit assembly 22functions to couple the chambers 42 and 43 in fluid communication withthe respective vacuum inlet and pressure outlet (not illustrated) of thepump 20.

Thus, with the valve assembly 17 in the condition illustrated in FIG. 1,energizing of the motor 21 will function to draw water into the pump 20from the bathtub through the intake chamber 42 and, at the same time,force water out of the pump through the output chamber 43 and the pipe24 and nozzle head 23 in communication therewith. It is noted that thepump 20 is positioned below the normal level of water in the bathtub 10,and thus will be self-priming when the bathtub is filled with water. Anair vent line 63 leading between the pump 20 and the overflow conduit 13and having a check valve 64 interposed therein provides for the escapeof air from the pump and assures that it will not be air locked.

Referring to FIG. 3, therein is illustrated an application of thesubject invention differing from that described with reference to FIGS.1 and 2 only in that the valve as sembly housing is adapted tofacilitate connection to a: pump 65 and driving motor 66 thereforpositioned below the bathtub 10 rather than to one side thereof. Thedifference in the position of the nozzle 16 and the valveassemblycomponents associated therewith is merely the result of showing thevalve assembly in the open position. Accordingly, like numerals in FIGS.1, 2 and 3 designate corresponding elements.

The valve housing of FIG. 3 is designated by the numeral 67 and hasformed therein an intake chamber 70 and an output chamber 71corresponding substantially to the chambers 42 and 43, respectively, ofthe housing 36. The chambers 70 and 71 differ from the correspondingchambers 42 and 43, respectively, of the housing 36 in that they includeas part thereof a conduit assembly 72 leading to the pump 65.Specifically, the chamber 70 includes a conduit 73 leading to the intakeof the pump 65 and the chamber 71 includes a conduit 74 leading to the 7output of said pump. At this point it is noted that the pump 65 is ofthe centrifugal type and includes an impeller 75 drivingly secured tothe motor 66 by a shaft 76. Water enters the impeller 75 at its hubportion and is discharged therefrom at its periphery, as illustrated bythe arrows. Although the interior details of the pump 20 describedpreviously with respect to FIG. 1 were not illustrated, it is to beunderstood that this pump and the inlet and outlet conduits cooperatingtherewith correspond substantially to those of the pump 65.

The housing 67 is also similar to the aforedescribed housing 36 in thatit includes a first valve seat opening 77 extending between the chambers70 and 71 and a second valve seat opening 80 extending through the lowerwall of the chamber 71 into communication with the drain line 14-through means of the fitting 46. The valve seat opening 77 and theopening 55 in the fitting 46 juxtaposed to the opening 80 cooperate withthe valve disc members 47 and 50, respectively, in a manner identical tothat described with reference to the corresponding elements in FIG. 1.Thus, turning of the nozzle 16 to a position wherein the head 23 facesthe adjacent upwardly extending wall of the bathtub functions to movethe disc members 47 and 50 to the open position illustrated in FIG. 3.At this point, reference is made to FIG. 2 wherein the cam surface 57 isillustrated as being substantially horizontal over a considerable lengthabove the follower 60. This horizontal characteristic of the surface 57provides for limited pivoting of the nozzle 16 about the axis of thepipe 24 without lifting the valve disc members 47 and 50. As a result,flow control direction from the nozzle 16 may be efiected by pivoting ofthe nozzle Without interrupting flow therethrough.

With the disc valve members 47 and St in the position illustrated inFIG. 3, activation of the pump 65 functions to draw water from thebathtub 10 and into the chamber 70 and conduit '73 communicatingtherewith. At the same time, water is exhausted from the pump into theoutput chamber '71 and the open drain line 14 communicating therewith.It is noted, however, that of the water exhausted into the chamber 71,only part enters the drain line 14 and the other part thereof isbypassed through the opening 77 and back into the chamber 70. It canthus be seen that the opening of the valve disc members 47 and 50functions to open both the drain line 14 and intake chamber 70 to theoutlet conduit 74 of the pump. As a result, one of the prime advantagesof the present invention is derived, namely, the pump 65 is utilized topump water from the bathtub 10 and into the drain line 14 at less thanfull pumping pressure. The amount that the pumping pressure applied tothe drain line is decreased can be regulated to satisfy local plumbingcodes by controlling the bypass area opened by the valve disc member 47.

To conclude from the foregoing detailed description it is believedapparent that the present invention enables the accomplishment of theobjects initially set forth herein. In particular, a hydrotherapyapparatus is provided wherein a single capacity pump may be utilized todirect water into a bathtub at full pumping pressure and to exhaustwater from the bathtub at diminished pumping pressure. It is to beunderstood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited tothe specific embodiments illustrated and described, but rather asdefined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a bathtub, an improved hydrotherapy apparatuscomprising:

(a) a nozzle mounted within said bathtub;

(b) a pump and driving motor therefor, said pump having a pressureoutlet and vacuum inlet;

(c) first conduit means interconnecting the interior of the bathtub andsaid vacuum inlet;

(d) second conduit means interconnecting the nozzle and said pressureoutlet;

(e) a drain line to waste connected to the second conduit means; and

(f) a valve assembly operatively associated with the first and secondconduit means and the drain line to selectively close said secondconduit means to said line or open said second conduit means to bothsaid line and first conduit means to apply pumping pressure to said linereduced by a predetermined amount.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said valve assemblycomprises:

(a) a valve housing having first and second chambers therein formingportions of said first and second conduit means, respectively, saidhousing a first valve seat opening extending between said chambers and asecond valve seat opening extending between said second chamber and thedrain line;

(b) valve disc means received within said housing for rectilinearmovement to concurrently either seat in and close or open said first andsecond valve seat openings upon said movement; and,

(c) valve actuating means operatively associated with said valve discmeans to selectively impart rectilinear movement thereto.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said valve actuating meanscomprises:

(a) a stem received within said housing for rotational movement andconnected to said valve disc means so as to impart said rotationalmovement thereto; and

(b) cam means operatively associated with said valve disc means toimpart rectilinear movement thereto upon a predetermined amount ofrotation thereof.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

(a) the nozzle is mounted within the bathtub for rotational movement;and,

(b) the nozzle and stem are interconnected for unitary rotationalmovement.

5. In combination with a bathtub having a drain opening, an improvedhydrotherapy apparatus comprising:

(a) a nozzle mounted within said bathtub and attached to said drainopening;

(b) a pump and driving motor therefor mounted outside of the bathtub,said pump having a pressure outlet and vacuum inlet;

(c) a first conduit extending through said drain opening intocommunication with the interior of the bathtub;

(d) a second conduit extending through said drain opening intocommunication with said nozzle;

(e) a drain line to waste;

(f) a valve housing mounted outside the bathtub and having therein:

(1) a first chamber connecting the first conduit and said vacuum inlet;

(2) a second chamber connecting the second conduit and said pressureoutlet;

(3) a first valve seat opening extending between said chambers; and,

(4) a second valve seat opening extending between said second chamberand the drain line;

(g) valve disc means received within said housing for rectilinearmovement to concurrently either seat in and close or open said first andsecond valve seat openings upon said movement; and,

(h) valve actuating means operatively associated with said valve discmeans to selectively impart rectilinear movement thereto.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the nozzle, second conduit,and valve disc means are interconnected for unitary rotational movementwith respect to the drain opening and the valve actuating meanscomprises:

(a) a first cam element fixed to the valve housing; and, (b) a secondcam element fixed to said valve disc means in a position wherein itcooperates with said first cam element to impart rectilinear movement tosaid means upon a predetermined degree of rotation thereof. 7. Anapparatus according to claim 6 wherein the first and second cam elementsare so associated as to permit the nozzle to rotate to a predetermineddegree without imparting rectilinear movement to the valve disc means.10

8. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the valve disc means areconnected to the second conduit for limited rectilinear movement withrespect thereto and including resilient means to normally urge the valvedisc means to close said first and second valve seat openings.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,272,585 2/1942Rocke.

2,587,335 2/1952 Landergott 4-480 2,591,252 4/1952 Gilson 4-1803,159,849 12/1964 Jacuzzi 4-180 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

H. K. ARTIS, Examiner.

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A BATHTUB, AN IMPROVED HYDROTHERAPY APPARATUSCOMPRISING: (A) A NOZZLE MOUNTED WITHIN SAID BATHTUB; (B) A PUMP ANDDRIVING MOTOR THEREFOR, SAID PUMP HAVING A PRESSURE OUTLET AND VACUUMINLET; (C) FIRST CONDUIT MEANS INTERCONNECTING THE INTERIOR OF THEBATHTUB AND SAID VACUUM INLET; (D) SECOND CONDUIT MEANS INTERCONNECTINGTHE NOZZLE AND SAID PRESSURE OUTLET; (E) A DRAIN LINE TO WASTE CONNECTEDTO THE SECOND CONDUIT MEANS, AND (F) A VALVE ASSEMBLY OPERATIVELYASSOCIATED WITH THE FIRST AND SECOND CONDUIT MEANS AND THE DRAIN LINE TOSELECTIVELY CLOSE SAID SECOND CONDUIT MEANS TO SAID LINE OR OPEN SAIDSECOND CONDUIT MEANS TO BOTH SAID LINE AND FIRST CONDUIT MEANS TO APPLYPUMPING PRESSURE TO SAID LINE REDUCED BY A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT.